Patent GB-190812946-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Forming Articles from Pulp.
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1908-06-17
Granted: 1908-12-03
Abstract: 12,946. Justice, P. M., [Emrick Pulp Machine Co.]. June 17. Mo u l d i n g pulp.-A machine for producing hollow articles from pulp comprises a rotary drum or carrier 3 fitted with groups of moulds A, which are adapted to be brought, in turn, beneath a pulp receptacle 1 fitted with pressing - devices 4, and a device B for removing the pressed articles from the moulds after the carrier has been rotated through a quarter of a revolution. The various parts of the machine are operated simultaneously and controlled automatically. The invention is described as being applied to the production of bottle cases. Pulp is supplied to the receptacle 1 through a pipe 29 fitted with a conveyer 31 and water is plied from a pipe 30 above the pulp, the inlet of pulp and water being controlled by a valve 33 which is operated from the cam-block C, Fig. 2, through the medium of a lever 128, link 127, bellcrank lever 125, and valverod 126. The receptacle 1 is movably mounted within guides 2, Fig. 1, and is forced downwards on to packing 1<a>, when a group of moulds A is in alinement with it, by means of rods 80, 80<a> connected to an eccentric 82 mounted upon a shaft 83. Pressure is applied to the filled moulds by means of f plungers 4 carried by a piston 5, which is coupled to the piston 6 of a steam or other pressure-fluid cylinder 7 by means of a hollow rod 8. Each mould comprises a perforated shell 34, Fig. 5, carried by a metal sheath 36 and separated therefrom by means of a wire spiral 35 and wire rods 37. The liquid expressed through each group of moulds passes into a basin 40, Fig. 1, communicating with a waste-pipe 41. An aperture 14, Fig. 3, is made in the hollow piston-rod 8 just above the piston 6 so that steam or air can pass through the piston 5 and complete the compacting of the material ; the admission of the pressure fluid below the piston 5 is prevented until the latter is in its lowest position by means of a hit- and-miss valve 15 which fits into a bore in the piston 5 and is normally held in place by means of a lock-bolt 19 engaging with a stop 20. On the ascent of the piston the valve 15 is closed by means of a stop 22 engaging with an inclined member 21. The piston 5 is maintained in its lowest position, while the final pressure is applied, by means of a latch 23 pivoted to a standard 25 which, under the action of a spring 28, swings over the end of the pistonrod 24 and prevents its return. After compression, the latch 23 is deflected to release the piston 6 by means of a bell-crank lever 142 operated by a pin 149, Figs. 1 and 2, on a gear-wheel 112 acting through a spring-controlled rod 145 and lever 144, one arm of the lever 142 engaging with an extension 143 on the latch. The valve 10, Fig. 3, of the cylinder 7 is operated in such a manner that after pressure fluid has been admitted through the port 11 to cause the piston 6 to descend, the valve is moved so as to close both ports 11, 12 and allow the pressure fluid above the piston to expand. An extension 132, Fig. 2, on the pump supply valve 33 rocks a lever 133 engaging with the valve-rod 134 of the valve 10, and moves the latter downwards to admit steam &c. through the port 11. On the descent of the piston 5, a catch 137, Fig. 3, rocks a lever 139 which engages with a pin 140 on the valve-rod and moves the valve to the median position as shown. When the receptacle 1 is moved upwards, a bar 141 acts upon the end of the valve-rod 134 and opens the part 12 to admit steam below the piston 6, causing the withdrawal of the piston 5. After the pulp has been compressed, the piston 5 is withdrawn and the pulp receptacle 1 raised by means of the eccentric 83 acting through the rods 80, 80<a>, and during the upward movement of the latter a pivoted spring-controlled finger 79, Fig. 12, carried by the rod 80, withdraws the spring-actuated locking-bolt 76 of the carrier 3, which is then rotated so as to bring the moulds opposite the discharging device B, Fig. 1. The device B comprises a rotary frame mounted upon a hollow spindle 46 and carrying two series of cores 43 adapted to be moved into the moulds to receive the pressed articles which are forced on to them by means of compressed air supplied through a conduit 51 ; the supply of compressed air is controlled by means of a valve 53 fitted with an arm 54 which is moved by projections 55 secured to the core-carrying members 47. The cores 43 are secured to two plates 47, Fig. 7, which are moved outwards to force the cores into the moulds by means of rack-bars 50 provided with T-shaped ends engaging with yokes 48 secured to the plates 47. Stripping-plates 56 are mounted above the plates 47 and are operated by means of rack-bars 61. The bars 50, 61 are so arranged that as one set of cores is moved into the moulds, the articles on the other set are removed by the stripping-plate 56. Pinions gearing with the racks 50, 61 are operated by the oscillations of a lever 153, Fig. 1, the motion being transmitted by a lever 150, rackbar 68, and pinions 69. To ensure the withdrawal of the articles from the moulds, the plates 56 are provided with pivoted spring - controlled fingers 57, Fig. 9<a>, which detach the articles. The various parts of the machine are driven from a main shaft 86, Fig. 2, driven by any suitable means, a reciprocating block C serving to control the various operations. The block C is reciprocated by means of a screwed hollow shaft 88 loosely mounted upon the main shaft 86 and driven alternately in opposite directions by means of oppositely-rotating clutches 92, 93. A bar 97 connecting the clutches is moved by means of a weighted lever 98 operated by a bar 99 carrying stops 100, 101 which are engaged by the block C when in its extreme positions. The carrier 3 is operated by gearing 104, 103, 102, Fig. 1, set into operation by a clutch 106, Fig. 2, which is moved into engagement with a clutch member 105 by means of a bar 107 connected to a spring-retained lever 108 adapted to be rocked by means of a projection 109 on the block C. A gear-wheel 111, Fig. 1, meshing with the gearwheel 103, drives the discharging-device B which is normally held by means of a spring-pressed stop 72, Fig. 7. The eccentric 83, Fig. 1, is driven by means of gearing 112, 113 set into operation by means of a clutch 115, Fig. 2, which is thrown into gear twice during every cycle of operations; the clutch lever 116 is coupled to a bar 117 connected through bell - crank levers 118<a>, 119<a> to bars 118, 119 carrying pins adapted to engage with a cam-groove 120 in the block C ; plates 121, carried by a pivoted lever 123 close the cam-groove 120 to each of the rods 118, 119 in one direction causing each to be actuated only once during each cycle of operations. A cam-groove 129 actuates the lever 128 connected to the pulp supply valve 126, and to prevent the valve from being actuated more than once during each cycle of operation, the end of the lever 128 is hinged so that it rides over the block C when the latter is moving in the direction of the arrow b. A cam-groove in the top of the block C, similar to the groove 129, actuates an arm 154 of the lever 153 controlling the discharging-devices 43, Fig. 1. The machine may be so arranged that the stripping- devices embrace the pressed articles.